This year, the Dublin Pride Festival turns 30 – but, far from being old and decrepit, it is well alive, and kicking harder than ever. Over the space of ten days, the entire city will be celebrating three decades of openness with an impressive range of events, to remind us that we really should be proud of how far we’ve come from the first 100-strong march in 1983 – without forgetting how much remains to be fought for.
1) The Irish Film Institute will take part in this year’s Pride celebrations with two special screenings of the documentaries Where I Am and Beyond Gay: The Politics of Pride. Both tell the stories of the hardships faced by gay people yesterday and today, in Ireland and abroad, and both promise to be interesting and thought-provoking productions.
Where I Am, Saturday 22nd June, 6.45pm
Beyond Gay: The Politics of Pride, Friday 28th June, 6.45pm (followed by wine reception)
2) The Copperhouse Gallery in Portobello is showing its dedication to the Pride festival with two fascinating pride-themed exhibitions. Irish artist Eoin Coveney’s collection of illustrations for the iconic gay publication Attitude will be on display until the 29th of June, while French photographer Tiane Doan na Champassak’s works, recounting transgender issues in India and Thailand, will run until the 25th of June. Both are worth seeing to add a cultural dimension to this year’s Pride before getting lost in the flamboyant festivities.
3) The hordes of proud festivalgoers who will be flocking to Dublin for Pride Day on Saturday 29th will need sustenance to make it through the raving celebrations of the Parade and the even wilder closing nights; luckily, various places around town will allow participants to stock up on breakfast and brunch before tackling the long hours of partying. The Whitefriar Grill is hosting a special Pride Brunch complete with DJs and cocktails; the LGBT community centre Outhouse too will be welcoming people to a champagne breakfast courtesy of Brother Hubbard next door. Teetotallers, young ones, and whoever would rather take it easy in preparation for the evening can attend the Alcohol-Free Pride Breakfast instead at Belong To, on Parliament Street, aimed at 14-23 year olds.
4) The legendary bar that calls itself “the lynchpin that holds Dublin’s gay scene together”, The George, will, unsurprisingly, be at the centre of the Pride’s nightlife throughout the week. Most nights of the year it is a lively and vivacious venue; it is expected to become even more animated as it is taken over by a series of glitzy Pride events, from the Launch Birthday Party on Friday 21st to a Kerry Katona show on Thursday 27th, culminating in the 30th Anniversary Official Pride Party on Saturday 29th, following the Parade.
5) The Parade is indisputably the Festival’s central event, having attracted over 30,000 people in the past, and never ceasing to surprise with its innovative and joyful vibe. Starting at the Garden of Remembrance at 2pm on Saturday, it will head down O’Connell Street and College Green, into Nassau Street, to then finish in Merrion Square for the Pride Village and various evening celebrations. This year’s theme is “Live, Love & Be Proud”, and with participants being encouraged to bring along everything from sequins to feather boas, it looks like the 30th edition is truly going to be bigger and flashier than ever.
